We support Friendship Shelter’s proposal for permanent supportive housing for Laguna’s homeless.

The City Council did a good thing five years ago in setting up the alternative sleeping location. For a number of those who were homeless at that time, just having a place to sleep undisturbed and to clean up helped them to qualify for Friendship Shelter’s main program and move toward independence.

This isn’t an option for the homeless who are left because of their mental and physical problems. Experience in other cities has shown that providing housing and regular social services for these chronically homeless people can give them better lives at less cost to the community. We hope that the City Council will take action to advance this proposal.

Ginger Osborne, Laguna Beach

The author is president of Village Laguna, which works to preserve village culture.